Since business gift-giving is an art, it naturally has its own set of agreed-upon rules. Who to give, what to give, and how to give are all very subtle, and one cannot give blindly, recklessly, or excessively.
Since business gift-giving is an art, it naturally has its own set of agreed-upon rules. Who to give, what to give, and how to give are all very subtle, and one cannot give blindly, recklessly, or excessively. Based on successful and failed gifting experiences from around the world, we should at least pay attention to the following principles:
1. Appropriateness of the gift's value
Generally speaking, if a gift is too light, it lacks meaning and can easily be misinterpreted as looking down on the recipient, especially when the relationship isn't close. Moreover, if the gift is too light and you're asking for something difficult, the chances of success are almost zero. However, if the gift is too valuable, it may make the recipient suspect bribery, especially with superiors or colleagues who should be more cautious. Except for those who love to take advantage and have great courage, ordinary people might outright refuse or even pay for it if they accept it, or they will certainly find a way to reciprocate later. Isn't this forcing them to spend money? If they refuse, you've already spent the money, and keeping it would be useless, leading to much frustration, as people often say: "Spending money to ask for trouble," why bother? Therefore, the choice of the gift's value should be based on whether the recipient can happily accept it, striving to spend less money but accomplish more tasks, or spend more money to handle important matters well.
2. Appropriate timing for gift-giving
The time interval for giving gifts is also very important. Too frequent or too long intervals are both inappropriate. Some people, due to financial constraints or urgent needs, often bring large and small packages to present gifts, thinking that such generosity will surely win others' favor. But upon reflection, this isn't true. Because the frequency of your gift-giving is too goal-oriented. Additionally, according to reciprocity, they must repay your kindness. Generally, it's better to choose important festivals, celebrations, or birthdays for gift-giving. The giver doesn't appear abrupt or insincere, and the recipient feels justified in accepting it, benefiting both parties.
3. Understanding customs and taboos
Before giving a gift, you should understand the recipient's identity, preferences, and ethnic customs to avoid causing unnecessary trouble. For example, some people visit patients in the hospital and bring a bag of apples as a gesture of comfort, only to cause problems. It turns out that the patient is from Shanghai, where "apple" and "death from illness" have similar pronunciations. Sending apples could be interpreted as cursing the person to die from illness because the giver didn't understand the situation, leading to an unpleasant outcome. Given this, when giving gifts, one must consider everything carefully to avoid unnecessary actions. For instance, don't send clocks, as "clock" sounds like "end," which feels inauspicious; sending a poor-quality painting to a highly cultured intellectual would be disappointing; giving a gift with pig images to an Islamic follower might get you thrown out.
4. Gifts should be meaningful
Gifts are carriers of emotion. Any gift represents the giver's unique sentiment, whether gratitude, request, or emotional connection, etc. Therefore, the gift you choose must align with your sentiment and make the recipient feel that your gift is extraordinary and precious. In fact, the best gift should be chosen based on the recipient's interests and preferences—something meaningful, thought-provoking, high-quality yet not ostentatious. Thus, when choosing a gift, consider its ideological, artistic, fun, and commemorative aspects, striving for originality and avoiding clichés.
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Corporate Culture Shaping Reflection_6619